THE CIRCUIT RIDER
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
6109 Highway 311           Houma, Louisiana 70360 
Telephone No. (985) 868-7787  /  Facsimile No. (985)868-7086
Barry Hoekstra, Pastor                                              Volume XXV  -  May 24, 2006
PASTOR’S MESSAGE 
"Third Time’s the Charm”
   Starting on Sunday, June 4th, we are changing the time for one of our worship services.  The Nite Lite service, which features the band, will move to 9:45 on Sunday mornings.  It is always risky to move or change the format of a worship service.  This is being done in order to continue to offer a contemporary worship opportunity at our church.   
   We tried to build up a Sunday afternoon program concluding with the Nite Lite service.  This program did not work out as well as we hoped.  Attendance was lackluster.  Frankly, we kind of lost sight of our mission statement: “Creating Christian Community through Serving and Sharing.”  Many of our youth and younger adults quit coming to Sunday school in the morning to attend the evening service.  Attendance at church wide events, like covered dish fellowship meals, dropped as a result.  This change in worship time will reactivate a youth Sunday school class and have our whole church family here on Sunday mornings.  This will help us create community.  Here’s the new schedule starting on June 4th.
* 8:30AM Traditional worship.  This service will feature communion every week.
* 9:20AM Fellowship time with coffee and donuts.
* 9:45AM First Sunday School hour.  The same as it is now.
* 9:45AM Contemporary worship. The band will play and
we’ll have communion each week.
*10:45AM Fellowship with coffee and donuts (if there are any donuts left).
*11:00AM Worship.  This will be a traditional service with the choir singing and communion on the first Sunday of the month.  A Children’s Church will be offered on non-communion Sundays.
*11:00AM Second Sunday school hour.  Youth and at least one adult class will meet during this time.
   Thank you as always for your support.
                                                                      Peace!  Barry

FELLOWSHIP TIME 
WHEN: After 8:30 Service       WHERE: Activities Building
Join us for Coffee, Donuts, and fellowship.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN 
June 3– 9:00AM Koinonia Circle meet at the Golden                      Corral.  (Dutch treat)  Leader: Judy Matherne.
June 6– 6:30PM General Meeting in the Fellowship Hall.
               Leader: Judy Matherne
June 13– 9:30AM Faith Circle meets in the Fellowship                    Hall  Parlor

NEW MEMBERS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY
   We extend a warm Christian welcome to Dawn Leanne Vincent who joined our church by transfer from another denomination on May 7, 2006.  Dawn’s family includes her son, Nick Guy.
  Jim Willie Clark, who has attended our church faithfully,  formerly joined on May 7, 2006.  We warmly welcome Jim to our Church family.

   MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY  
   The Church office will be closed on Monday,  May 29th, for Memorial Day. 
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
**MORNING ACTIVITIES
Itty-Bitty to Four year olds are with Mrs. Mary in the Nursery.
Kindergarten - Fifth Grade will be with Mrs. Jeanne for Video-  The Easter Story.  This will complete the unit on Easter People.
**AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES CANCELED!
   There will be NO Sunday afternoon activities for children. 

         SPLISH-SPLASH!
      Come prepared to get wet!
               When: June 10th   
                                  Time: 2:00PM–4:00PM
                           Ages: Four years–Fifth Grade
Water Games**********Water Games**********Water Games
   The Bible is brimming with stories that reference water.  The Water Games will relate to various stories.
                          Volunteer parents are needed!
   Call the Church if you wish to help organize or help us with this event.

    VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
      When:    July 30th–August 3rd
      Time:     6:00PM–8:30PM
       Ages:    Five years–Fifth Grade
             Theme:  Adventures of the Treasure Seekers
   I welcome all volunteers who wish to help before or during Vacation Bible School.  Please call me at the Church office.  I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions.
                                           -Jeanne Scott, Children’s Director

STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE
   The Staff Parish Relations Committee will meet in the Fellowship Hall Parlor on Tuesday, May 30th, at 6:30PM.

TOOL LIST FOR PROJECT NOAH(YOUTH MISSION TRIP)
   If you can help by donating tools (new or used) for this mission, please call Phyliss Martin at 868-7787 or 868-0414.
2 extension ladders, 2 step ladders, 2 shovels (flat or spade), 2 post hole diggers, 2 saw horse kits, 1 sharpshooter shovel, 1 sledge hammer, 1 jumper cable, 1 hack saw with extra blades, 1 rope (for lifting things to roof), 1 insect sprayer, 1 axe, 1 bow saw, 1 masonry trowel, 2 tin snips, 2 circular power saws with tungsten carbide or new condition blades, 4 power drills with drill bits and Phillips screw bits, 4 25ft., 50 ft., or 100 ft. electrical extension cords, 2 3-prong adapter plugs, 2 pliers, 2 needle nose pliers, 2 vice grips, 4 screwdrivers–2 Phillips & 2 flat, 4 25 ft., 50 ft., or 100 ft., ruler tapes, 2 squares (square/level combination OK), 2 levels (square/level combination is OK), 2 miter boxes, 2 crowbars, 4 utility knives (retracting blades), 6 putty knives (1", 2", or 3" blade), 2 chalk lines with chalk, 2 staple guns with 8 boxes of staples (1/4" or ½"), 4 carpenter pencils, 2 wood rasps, 2 caulking guns, 1 48 quart ice chest, 1 3 to 5 gallon insulated water jug.
   Thank you for any contribution!

Our Stewardship for Week  #20   May 14, 2006
Attendance in Worship: 202    Sunday School:  35
Offering This Week:      $ 4,847     YTD:  $165,023
Bldg. Fund This Week: $ 3,725    YTD:   $  90,548
Apportionments Due : $24,500  Pd YTD:$ 17,150

Our Stewardship for Week # 21    May 21, 2006
Attendance in Worship: 184    Sunday School:  39
Offering This Week:    $  3,793      YTD: $168,798
Bldg. Fund This Week: $   385      YTD: $  90,933
Apportionments Due: $25,725      YTD: $  17,150

IN WORSHIP        SUNDAY, May 28, 2006              
The Scripture:  Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23
The Gospel:     Luke 24:44-53
The Sermon:  “What’cha Looking At?” 
                          Rev. Barry Hoekstra

PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR PEACE AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY:  Jerry St. Pierre, John Parks,  Jason Babin, Andy Weaver, Kevin  Adams, Brian Ratcliff, Brandon Ratcliff,  Bryan McDonald, Brian Medaris, Chad Campbell, Ryan Kurras, Chris Pollard,  Michael Wegler, Brent Hollingfield, Bryan Patton, Kristopher Pugh, James Lyle, Richard Schandorff,  Paul Tholen, Don Adams, Jeremy Brunet, Jamie Authement, Lance Chatagnier, Joseph Frisella, Jr., Billy Odom, Travis Twiggs, Blake Dryden,  and the 2/156(M) Infantry-Houma National Guard, the TN 278th.

THANK YOU FOR THESE GIFTS OF LOVE TO THE:
Building Fund by M/M Dana Lofton, M/M Charles Jenkins, M/M Sonny Navarre, M/M David Caletri, Juana Woodard, Hazel Abernathy, M/M Gawain Vicknair, Paula Rutledge, Jim Clark, M/M Tim Gillaspie, M/M Larry Babin, M/M Melvin Childers, M/M Paul Sammarco and M/M Jimmy Hardin.
UMY Project Noah Fund by Carla Smith, M/M Wayne Reid, and M/M Gene Milford.
Bishops Hurricane Appeal by United Methodist Women.
Piano Fund by Lynda Erickson and M/M Paul Sammarco.
YSF Offering in honor of the marriage of Sue & Earl Pertuit by M/M Robert English.
Mother’s Day Offering/Ruston’s Children’s Home by
M/M Will Williams, Reese & Howard Barker, M/M Bill Thibodeaux, M/M Barry Hoekstra, M/M Mike Tingle, M/M John Kelley and Judy Messina.  In memory of our mothers, Annie R. Reid & Amy H. Crozit by M/M Wayne Reid.  In memory of Celena DeHart and Lydia Punch by M/M Calvin Punch, Sr.
Voices of Light Fund by Al Cowan, and in honor of Beth Duet, Donna Sammarco and the Choir by M/M Wayne Reid.
Contingency Fund in memory of John Woodard by Dr/M
David Conner and M/M Frank Moody and family.

WE EXTEND OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
We extend our Christian sympathy to these families:
   Mary Walden and her family.  Her brother, Henry Thibodeaux, passed away on May 17th.
   Katherine Cancienne and her family.  Katherine’s brother, Aubrey Furr, passed away after a long illness.
    Keri Klaus and her family.  Keri’s grandfather, Lyle Haynes, passed away recently.

Back to News